Stelletta aurora var. arenosa Hentschel, 1909

Van Soest, Rob W. M., 2024, Correcting sponge names: nomenclatural update of lower taxa level Porifera, Zootaxa 5398 (1), pp. 1-122 : 61

Stelletta aurora var. arenosa Hentschel, 1909

( Fig. 6L )

Stelletta aurora var. arenosa Hentschel, 1909: 362 , fig. 7.

Aurora aurora var. arenosa ; Dendy 1916: 250, footnote.

The variety was described by Hentschel from Champion’s Bay off Geraldton, West Australia, approximate coordinates 28.7716°S 114.6017°E, depth 0–1 m (syntype ZMB 4261). The typical variety, also described by Hentschel (1909: 361, figs. 5–6, from the same locality and depth as the present variety, holotype ZMB 4260), differs in having a less sand-encrusted surface, and shorter plagiotriaenes with longer cladi. Other features including the structural oxeas and a complement of large sterrospherasters and small spherasters are closely similar between the two varieties. The differences appear minor as shape, rhabd length and cladi length are subject to intraspecific variability in many Ancorinidae . As they occurred in the same locality it is likely the two belong to the same species and I propose to merge the varieties under the name Rhabdastrella aurora ( Hentschel, 1909) as the possession of sterrospherasters identifies the specimens as members of that genus. Aurora Sollas, 1888 is preoccupied ( Lepidoptera ) and replaced by Rhabdastrella Thiele, 1903 (cf. Uriz 2002: 114).

Figures

FIGURE 6. A. Geodia variospiculosa var. aapta Lebwohl, 1914: pl. II figs. 63–77, B. Geodia variospiculosa var. clavigera Thiele, 1898: pl. VI fig. 7b, C–D. Geodia variospiculosa var. intermedia Von Lendenfeld, 1910: pl. 17 figs. 39–40, E. Geodia variospiculosa var. micraster Von Lendenfeld, 1910: pl. 17 fig. 41, F–G. Poecillastra compressa var. parvistellata Topsent, 1913: pl. IV figs. 1–2, H. Racodiscula sceptrellifera var. siliquariae; Pattanayak 2009: pl. VI fig. E, I. Racodiscula sceptrellifera var. spiroglyphi; Pattanayak, 2009: pl. VI fig. F, J. Racodiscula sceptrellifera var. spiroglyphi Annandale, 1911b: pl. IX figs. 1–15, K. Sidonops alba var. minor Hentschel, 1912: pl. 17 fig. 5, L. Stelletta aurora var. arenosa Hentschel, 1909: fig. 7, M. Stelletta validissima f. orthotriaena Koltun, 1966: pl. VII fig. 1, N. Thenea grayi var. lateralis Thiele, 1898: pl. V fig. 4, O–P. Theonella swinhoei var. verrucosa Wilson, 1925, O. habitus pl. 43 fig. 1, P. Spicules pl. 49 fig. 10.